Friday, November 27, 2009

I was inspired by the beautiful snowflake that Pamela sent me, so I opened up my copy of 24 Snowflakes in Tatting by Lene Bjorn and started tatting! I skipped the first pattern because it's all rings with short lengths of thread between them. I'm not very good at that! I was so eager to begin, I grabbed the first ball of thread I saw. While this is a very pretty green (Flora #228), it certainly doesn't look much like snow! It did serve the purpose I needed... to see how much thread I need before tatting it in HDT. Don't look too closely... you'll see the ring I messed up!

I think I may try larger picots on the next one for a more feathery look. What do you think?

Thursday, November 26, 2009

My dad's favorite greeting was, "God is good", with the response, "All the time!" I believe this to be true. I can sometimes get bogged down with the trivialities of life, but when I think of my dad and his approach to life with God in charge, I know that I have been blessed by God in so many ways. I am so thankful for my loving family and the positive way in which I was raised!

I have the best mom in the world! She has set a good example for me in so many ways. Even now at the age of 57, I think of how my parents, especially my mom, would react to my choices. I would never want to intentionally do anything to disappoint her. I'm sure I have many times over the years, but she is so loving and forgiving that she doesn't recall some of the things that haunt me!

I have two wonderful sisters and the best brother in the world! Yes, we have had spats, but nobody could ever make me believe anything but the best of them.

My husband is unbelievable! Why he has put up with me for 29 years is beyond my understanding! He helps me around the house. He helps pull me out of my bad moods. He is never judgmental. Best of all, he does not complain about my creative messes!

I have four beautiful daughters, and four wonderful grandchildren. Yes, I get frustrated with them at times, but don't you dare question the intentions of any of my baby girls... they are far better people than I can ever hope to be!

And then there are my friends... I have made so many new friends because of this wonderful computer age! Yes, I know there are dangers in the computing world, but there are dangers every way we turn. I am happy to say that the tatting community has offered me some of the best friendships of my life!

So, like Bing Crosby, tonight I will count my blessings instead of sheep!

Oh, you wanted to know about my tatting? Okay! Yesterday, my Raspberry Sorbet thread arrived Pamela! We were both getting a bit worried, because it took so long to get here! My theory... the postal workers could smell the luscious Raspberry Sorbet and held on to it as long as they could! What other explanation could there be for a month long trip from Ireland? Last night I wound my beautiful new thread on the dragonfly... why settle for a boring floss bobbin? I think the dragonfly looks quite dapper in Raspberry Sorbet! Pamela also sent me this lovely snowflake as a gift! Luckily, I have the book! I think I'll have to try this one!

Monday, November 23, 2009

Heather asked for some shuttle testers, and I was among the chosen. Isn't this the cutest little thing? It's light and smooth. I had no trouble with it at all. I was able to wind on about one yard of size 20 Flora. Not much thread, I know, but it was still fun to play with. I'll have to try it with a finer thread to see how much I can wind on and how much I can tat. Thanks for the opportunity, Heather!

Note: Sorry for the blurry picture. I really am trying to get better with my photography. Maybe I should take a class!

Sunday, November 22, 2009

The scan just doesn't do this justice! I never would have thought of putting these colors together, but Krystle did, and I love it! Too bad this one's not for me. Maybe Krystle will dye some more (hint, hint).

Thursday, November 19, 2009

Ambitatterous asked, and here's my answer... well, sort of. This is most of my HDT stash. I know I have other skeins tucked here and there around the house, but I didn't take time to look for them. What can I say? I LOVE HDT!

Now I suppose someone wants me to lay all the skeins out so that all the colors can be seen... maybe later. Will I share? Hmmm... probably not!

Sunday, November 15, 2009

I really don't know how the weekend got away from me, but it did! Friday night I finished up the laundry that didn't get done last weekend because of the play. I know... excuses, excuses!

Saturday I attended the Quilting and Sewing Expo in Rosemont, IL with my daughter Alison and my friend Pat. Yes, I bought lots of goodies, including some cool looking thread that might work for tatting. When I have some time I'll give it a try and let you know!

What happened to today? I really don't know! I looked for some knitting needles, got distracted with organizing my sewing room, found the knitting needles upstairs in the spare bedroom, watched a knitting video, tried the technique with no success, and then it was 5 o'clock!

I did manage to start a pair of socks for my grandson. I really don't think he'll want store bought socks with tatted or crocheted edgings like the girls are getting. I also managed to tat a little more of my Spinning Wheel, but that's about all I accomplished. I'm feeling awfully tired for getting so little done!

Thursday, November 12, 2009

I had great intentions of completing this Spinning Wheel in short order. However, Tuesday night I fell asleep in my chair... not much tatting! Yesterday morning I thought I'd get a whole lot of tatting done. Then I remembered that I didn't do laundry over the weekend because of the play. Yes, I did tat... between phone calls! I visited with my daughter Alison (Squeaky Alligator) on the phone several times, and I talked with some friends as well. I'm no good at tatting while talking on the phone... shoulder cramps!

I also spent a lot of time online catching up on blog reading... boy, was I behind! I didn't leave many comments, but I did catch up on every single blog I could think of!

What's that saying, Mom? The road to hell is paved with good intentions? I guess it's a good thing that I had GREAT intentions rather than GOOD ones!

Tuesday, November 10, 2009

...glass mat from Tatting With Visual Patterns by Mary Konior. This has to be one of my all time favorite patterns... I've made so many of them!

When Krystledawne (aka Dr. Von Threadmore) decided to list her "extra" thread, I just couldn't resist! I know HDT is a little pricier than Flora or Lizbeth, but it is so nice to work with! Besides, when I buy a little HDT here and a little HDT there, I feel like I am supporting the very talented ladies who are willing to experiment and then share! Of course, now I have a stash large enough to keep me tatting for years, but buying nice tatting supplies is so much cheaper than therapy!

Monday, November 9, 2009

After yesterday's performance of Seussical Jr. (which was a huge success!), I sat down to work on Beatrice. I was in a tatting zone, and I would have finished her last night, but I don't have enough thread! Luckily, Tatskool still had some in her shop, so I placed my order for more Raspberry Sorbet. The last pattern repeat will just have to wait for a little bit!

In the meantime, I doodled with size 80 Weeping Cherry from LadyShuttleMaker. This simple little snowflake is about the right size for the frame, but I need to find a background color so that the beautiful thread stands out. I think I"ll play with some variations on this design so that the snowflake has some points.

Friday, November 6, 2009

Yes, the end is in sight, but I probably won't finish Beatrice until next week. We have a weekend of excitement here in little Grant Park... the middle school production of Seussical Jr.! I'm not directly involved, but as the mother of the director I take on the role of "go-fer" and wind up with lots of last minute responsibilities. Luckily, I remembered to ask Dave to load the concessions in the van before he left for work this morning. There's no way I could have lifted those cases of water! He also was a dear and washed the coolers.

After taking my Beatrice photo of the day, I put the camera battery in the charger. Last year I took pictures during Oklahoma!, but I hadn't charged the battery, and it ran out of juice about 3/4 of the way through the play!

Performances are tonight and tomorrow night at 7, and Sunday afternoon at 2. At 6 tomorrow there will be finger sandwiches and desserts for those who bought advance tickets. It's always a fun time, but there's always a ton of laundry and loads of dishes to wash afterwards!

To add to all the excitement, Carol (aka Madame Director) is getting sick... horrible cough, losing her voice, no energy... so I've been trying to make healthy germ-fighting meals this week. I have a feeling Carol's just going to collapse when she gets home Sunday night.

So, I'll tat a little bit here and a little bit there for relaxation, but I have a feeling it will be the middle of the week before Beatrice is shown in all her glory!

Thursday, November 5, 2009

I didn't think I tatted very much last night until I compared the pictures this morning. I forgot a join, so I had to retro-tat two rings and a short section of chain. Amazingly, that only took me about a half hour! I also had to take time to wind my shuttle and join the new thread. I think the next time I make this, I might wind several shuttles before I start so I can keep my momentum!

Yes, I ordered some of the snowflake picture frames! Now I have to find a pattern and thread that will work. The opening is only 1 1/4", so I think the snowflake can't be more than 1" in diameter. The snowflakes are very lightweight, especially compared to the other photo frames I have. They can hang from the ribbon, which I don't really like... I think I'll replace it with some pretty organza! The also have a magnet on the back, and there's an easel so that it can stand up! What a treat! I doubt that I'll get these made for this Christmas, but I'm all set for next year!

Wednesday, November 4, 2009

I can't believe how much I've been able to accomplish with this little beauty! By "limiting" myself to an hour a day, I find that I cheat quite a bit so that I can get just a little bit more done. What fun!

Tuesday, November 3, 2009

I'm finding that setting aside time to work on Beatrice each evening is helping me accomplish much more than I thought possible! At work I'm very goal oriented, but at home I'm very laid back. If something gets finished... great! If not... tomorrow is another day. I've only been setting aside an hour a day, but I wind up tatting for more than an hour. I just want to complete one more set of rings or another section of chains!

I love Sunday afternoons during football season! I can sit and tat/knit/crochet/cq guilt free for three hours while Dave watches football! I don't mind football, but I probably wouldn't turn it on if I was the only one home. I'd rather watch baseball. Anyway, during the game I was able to tat, work on my other mitten, and farm! Imagine how much I could have accomplished if my wrist had allowed me to tat for the entire game!

Sunday, November 1, 2009

I managed to get quite a bit tatted in between other activities yesterday. I did finish most of the laundry, and I made a pot of soup for dinner. I guess I should have dusted and done some organizing in the sewing room. Instead, I visited on the phone with my mom and daughters, watched some recorded t.v. shows, and I tatted! With a little time management, I could have accomplished a lot more on all fronts, but I felt like having a lazy day, so I did! : )

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About Me

I'm a retired elementary computer teacher/librarian, mother to four, grandmother to seven. I love lace. I love books. I love to collect. Now that I'm retired, I know I'll never be bored because I have so many interests, as well as the goodies I need to indulge my whims!